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The deadly virus devastating West Africa likely will make it across the Atlantic, but the U.S. is better able to deal with it.

As world health officials struggle to respond to the Ebola epidemic, Pakistan has passed a grim milestone in its efforts to combat another major global health crisis: the fight against polio. Over the weekend, Pakistan logged its 200th new polio case of 2014, the nation's highest transmission rate in more than a dozen years.

Since March, the Ebola virus outbreak has infected 5,864 people and caused 2,811 deaths in West Africa. With no proven treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) is scrambling to halt an epidemic its officials say is unparalleled in severity, complexity, and scale-which is likely underreported.

Key facts Influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person. Influenza circulates worldwide and can affect anybody in any age group. Influenza causes annual epidemics that peak during winter in temperate regions. Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations.